Flooring-clamp



(No Model.)

J. H. GIESEY.

FLOORING CLAMP.

Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

Human:

' A TTOHNEYS UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. GIESEY, OFRVHEELING, \VEST VIRGINIA.

FLOORING-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No.43,961, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed February 4, 1890. Serial No. 339,171. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. GIESEY, of Wheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of \Vest Virginia, have invented a new and usefullmprovementin Flooring-Clamps,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in flooring-clamps, and has for its object. to provide a simple, strong, and convenient device, whereby the operation of laying floorboards, whether straight or warped on their edges, may be expeditiously eifected.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as is hereinafter described, and indicated in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in position for use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof secured to a joist. Fig. 3 is a top plan view in section of the clamp in operative position, taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. l; and Fig. 4. is an end elevation of a portion of the clamp, showing one locking-limb in opened adjustment.

The flooring-clamp is designed to be selflocking to the joist it is mounted upon, the act of pressing toward and against the edge of the floor-board which is to be secured, tightening the grip of the device upon its support, and when the same requires to be moved the withdrawal of the presser-ba-r from contact with the secured board simultaneously releases the floor-clamp from the joist whereon it was secured, as will be more fully explained.

A base-plate A is provided, which consists of a flat bar of suitable length, on the ends of which parallel ears 0, are formed oppositely in pairs. Between the ears a on each side of the-base-plate duplicate clamping devices are pivoted, and as these are alike in general form, with the exception that they are right and left handed, a description of one will answer for both.

There are two vertical parallel limbs b,

. held spaced apart by an integral arch b, said limbs being introduced between the ears a, and pivoted thereto by bolts 0, so that each side clamp thus afforded will be free to swing laterally. The lower portions of the limbs 11, or parts thereof which extend below the pivot centers at e, have set-bolts d inserted in tapped holes formed near the free ends of said limbs, which bolts project toward each other from the outsides of the limbs and have their inner ends pointed, winged thumb-nuts 0 being placed on the bolts to afford means to jam them, or hold the same from turning when a proper adjustment for the points is had.

The portions of the rear limbs 12 which are above the pivots c are curved outwardly and upwardly in opposite directions on each side of the machine, as at e, in Fig. 2, and on the upper portions of the same an inward and forward bend is given to the limbs and their integral connecting arch-piece b, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3, thus producing cam curves on the arch-pieces, which terminate at f, where these arch-pieces are spaced from each other sufficiently to cause the remaining portions to lie in parallel planes vertically considered.

lVhen viewed from their sides, the opposite clamping-sections B, as the parts just described are termed, are arched, as shown in Fig. 1, and from the 'forward corner where the arches I) join the limbs 29 the curved top surfaces of both arches are serrated to produce ratchet-teeth thereon,

At the longitudinal center of the base-plate A the operating-lever O is pivoted thereon, said lever being bifurcated to permit it to embrace the sides of the base-plate and be loosely connected thereto by a pivot-bolt it, that is inserted in aligning perforations of the lever and plate.

The operating-lever C is provided with a sliding locking-dog i, which is loosely secured upon the lever to reciprocate Vertically a limited distance, and by laterally-projected locking-toes 1', formed on the same said dog 11 is adapted to engage the opposite aligning ratchet-teeth on the racks of the arch-pieces b. The operating-lever G has opposite hookshaped lugs i formed on it, which project outwardly and. downwardly, so as to engage loosely the outer surface of the arch-pieces b, the body of said lever having a similar sliding contact with the inner faces of the arch-pieces, whereby the reciprocation of the lever will positively and forcibly actuate the clamping-sections B to throw them in, as shown in Fig. 2, or project them outwardly and release them from a joist, as represented in Fig. 4;.

The usual tripping-handle O is jointed to the operating-lever O at k, the lower end of said tripping-handle being loosely engaged by a link-bar m, which is secured at its lower end to the dog i, thus affording means to conveniently operate the lever and interlock it with the racks g when desired.

At a there is a presser-bar D, pivoted upon the operating-lever C, which bar is furnished with a forked front end that has each limb 0 of equal length and bent upward at their edges to adapt them to press against the edge of a board when the device is in position for use, the faces of the limbs which bear upon the flooring being grooved suitably, so as to fit over the tongue of a floor-board and avoid injury to the same.

In operation, after one board is nailed upon the joists and a loose board or boards placed in position for jacking, to cause the tongues and grooves to fit closely and close the floorjoints the flooring-clamp is made to straddle a joist, as in Fig. 2, and the pointed bolts (1 in the lower ends of the limbs I) brought into forcible contact therewith by a forward movement of the lever G, which will simultaneously press the bar D against the floor-boards, the dog '6 holding the lever at any point of rocking adjustment. A reversal of movement of the Owing to the compact form, powerful leverage afforded, and ease with which this device may be manipulated to secure and release it, rapid and efficient service is secured by its use, and flooring that is warped or straight may be readily forced to place by its judicious operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a floor-clamp, the combination of a base-plate, clamping-sections pivoted to the base-plate .and provided with cam-faces, an operating-lover having its lower end pivoted to the base-plate and provided with hook-shaped lugs engaging the cam-surfaces of the clamping-sections, and a presser-bar pivoted to the operating-lever, substantially as described.

2. In a floor-clamp, the combination of a base-plate, clamping-sections pivoted to the base-plate and each consisting of two limbs united by an arch-bar having a cam-face, and provided with bolts in their lower ends, a lever pivoted to the base-plate and provided with lugs engaging the arched bars, and a presser-bar pivoted to the said lever, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a floor-clamp, the combination of a base-plate, clamp-sections pivoted to the base plate and each consisting of two limbs united byan arch-bar having a cam-face and ratchet teeth, and provided with bolts in their lower ends, a lever pivoted to the base plat'e and provided with a lug engaging the arched bar of the limbs, a sliding locking-dog carried by the lever and engaging the ratchet-teeth of the arched bar, and a presser-bar pivoted to said lever, substantially as herein shown and described.

JAMES H. GIESEY.

Witnesses: I

FRANK FARIS, ALONZO LJST. MYERS. 

